“The only possible right motive with which the study of Buddhism can be undertaken is the hope that through such study Enlightenment can be attained.”  Sangharakshita, ‘A Survey of Buddhism’

“How can you go for Refuge to a Buddha that you have never seen? Do you go for refuge to an idea? Do you go for refuge to the image? It's very difficult to go for refuge to the Buddha, because you don't see the Buddha and therefore don't experience him. But you do see the guru, you do experience the guru. So according to the Vajrayana, for practical purposes, the guru is the refuge. If you get into difficulties, if you want some advice, if you want teachings specifically related to your needs, you don't go to the Buddha, you can't go to the Buddha.

“Everyday you have five things to practise: Keep up the effort to be mindful and aware; remain in as positive a state as possible; do not lose sight of your ultimate goal at any time; apply at every level whatever you have realised or discovered at the highest level of your being; do your best for other people, do what you can to help them.

“There is something about the movement, the Order, and even about me that is not easily definable. There is a touch of something that cannot be buttoned down, something that cannot in the end be defined. Everyone will need to take care of that rather mysterious, indefinable spirit that gives the movement life and energy.”  Sangharakshita, ‘What is the Western Buddhist Order?’

“There exists within the Enlightenment experience, within the heart of Reality, an element of communication, an element of spiritual friendship, something that found expression in the later history of Buddhist thought as that rather mysterious concept of Sambhogakaya.”  Sangharakshita, ‘A Case of Dysentery’